Tchaman (Atchan) Kings and dignitaries in front of the Djidji Ajokwe talking drum back in March (Source: Afrikmonde.com)

On this day, 7 August which marks Cote d’Ivoire’s 66th anniversary of its ‘independence’, on this national holiday, the ancestral talking drum, Djidji Ayôkwé was presented to the people. This is the first object returned by France to Côte d’Ivoire, the first of 148 artifacts. France returned the sacred drum looted from Côte d’Ivoire after 110 years. It was taken from the Tchaman (Atchan, Ebriés) people by the French people. The talking drum was exposed at the Musée du Quai Branly. The drum is 4 m (13 ft) long and 430 kg (948 lbs) heavy.

Excerpts below are from RFI.

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The ceremony of August 7, 2026 was very symbolic because it is the first time that the talking drum was revealed to the general Ivorian public since his return to the country last March. First there was the military parade. Then, the drum opened the civil parade. The latter was placed on a red truck, protected by a window. He was surrounded by two Ebrie traditional chiefs.

Next to this truck, there were people dressed in traditional attire singing solemnly singing solemnly “Djidji Ayôkwé” to celebrate its return. … After Yopougon, Djidji Ayôkwé headed to the commune of Adjamé, where a traditional ceremony was organized in the afternoon. 

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